The LA Lakers might just have a new star, with draft pick Dalton Knecht proving his potential on Tuesday night with a sensational display.
The rookie, who was the 17th overall pick in this year’s draft, racked up 37 points against the Jazz in a 124-118 win for the Lakers. Knecht tied the record for rookie three-pointers with nine.
Knecht wasn’t expected to fall to the Lakers and the 17th pick, but other teams missed the opportunity to draft him, and an excited LeBron James has highlighted that.
“They didn’t find DK – the other 16 teams f-ked up,” James told reporters after the win over the Jazz. “Did anyone watch him? They just f-ked up.”
Knecht is averaging 11 points per game so far and shooting for 46 percent with three-pointers. He netted 21 points in the third quarter alone against the Jazz, and he did so with James cheering from the sidelines.
The guard was drafted out of Tennessee, where he played 103 games in all, scoring 1,739 and accumulating an average of 16.9.
The Knecht buzz
Naturally, Lakers head coach JJ Reddick is delighted to have snagged Knecht with the 17th pick. He said after the Jazz win: “Getting a guy with a 17th pick that can play right away with our group is huge.”
Asked if he was surprised to have dropped so far in the draft, Knecht told reporters: “I would say a little bit. I did what I did in college. Lots of people said I was the best player.
“So you know when I did fall it was alright because I landed in a great spot. I got to play with LeBron. I mean who can say that? Then also AD. I went to a great franchise and you know very blessed to be here.”
